'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy' preview: A highly underrated card

Rightfully so, eyes should be locked on the two title fights that grace “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy.”

Luke Rockhold attempts the second defense of his middleweight title when he meets Tim Kennedy, and Nate Marquardt and Tyron Woodley vie for the vacant welterweight belt.

But with the end of the promotion’s prospects-driven Challenger series – it was phased out when Showtime renewed a broadcast deal with Strikeforce for 2012 – there is less real estate to spread out talent on this year’s schedule. In the case of Saturday’s card, that means lineups more densely packed with talent.

Five preliminary-card bouts on Saturday’s card offer veteran talent to complement what should be, and unfortunately isn’t, a marquee event.

It’s a fight fan’s card. Not heavy on relevance, but more than likely to deliver excitement.

Or consider Pat Healy (27-16 MMA, 5-1 SF), who welcomes DEEP lightweight champion Mizuto Hirota (14-4-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) to the U.S. Healy’s 4-0 run, which was capped by a third-round submission of the surging Caros Fodor, put him in the conversation for a shot at the lightweight title.

And in the first fight of the night, Ryan Couture (4-1 MMA, 4-1 SF) aims to build on momentum gained from a career-high win over Conor Heun by beating Bellator vet Joe Duarte (10-2 MMA, 2-0 SF).

At this point none of these men is the kind of marquee name that sells pay-per-views. But they would be worthy of the main card if not for the talent assortment above them.

Rockhold faces stiff challenge, Strikeforce rebuilding title roster

Most MMA observers raised an eyebrow when Keith Jardine got the first shot at champ Luke Rockhold’s middleweight belt. But Jardine was a replacement; the guy who was supposed to get the shot was Tim Kennedy, whose run in Strikeforce was interrupted only by former champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

And while Kennedy (14-3 MMA, 5-1 SF) lost to Souza over five tactical rounds, it’s possible he’ll present a stiffer challenge than that which Souza offered to Rockhold (9-1 MMA, 8-0 SF). He isn’t the submission artist that the former champ is. But he is perhaps better at keeping top position and doing damage while he’s on top of opponents.

Kennedy also has a wider breadth of experience against top-tier competition, and in 17 pro fights, he’s never really been completely dominated by anyone.

While Rockhold had a career-defining performance against Souza, it remains to be seen whether Kennedy’s skill set is worse for him in the fight’s long run. His dynamic striking is a threat to quickly end the fight, but it could also be an invitation to be taken down.

All in all, the title fight is looking like a referendum on Rockhold’s development as a 9-1 fighter against a more well-traveled veteran who, admittedly, didn’t pull the trigger in his first title shot.

The exodus of Strikeforce fighters to the UFC began in June 2011 with welterweight champ Nick Diaz and ended with three vacant belts. More than a year later, Strikeforce is finally rebuilding its stable of champions.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said all but the light-heavyweight title will be spoken for by the end of this year, as former champ Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante is likely to stay on suspension until 2013. First, however, the promotion will put back what they first took away in the welterweight class.

Woodley (10-0 MMA, 8-0 SF), a truly homegrown Strikeforce product, is the younger, fresher fighter at 30. Undefeated in 10 bouts, he, like Rockhold, lacks the breadth of high-level competition of his opponent, Nate Marquardt (31-10-2 MMA, 0-0 SF). But he is a huge stylistic threat to the onetime UFC middleweight title challenger – or any of his opponents, for that matter. His MMA wrestling is among some of the best in his class.

If he chooses to use it.

Woodley possesses striking and submission skills of which fans have seen brief glimpses. But it’s what he does when taken out of his comfort zone – wrestle – that makes him a winner. The well-rounded Marquardt is both a seasoned striker and sprawl-and-brawl artist. He is more than capable of knocking out Woodley if the fight stays on its feet.

A long layoff and new weight class are the X-factors leading into the title bout. Marquardt has assured fans that welterweight is not a problem, but then again, he hasn’t had his gas tank pushed in a fight, and especially against a fighter such as Woodley.

It could be a blowout for Marquardt, but more likely if the fight ends soon. If it goes the distance, it’ll probably be Woodley scoring the bulk of points.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.